4 Tips to Help Elderly Avoid Feeling Isolated

By Doris Kasold, 9:00 am on August 11, 2015

If you’re concerned that your senior loved one who lives alone may be experiencing feelings of isolation, loneliness, or depression, there are steps you can take to help diminish his or her negative feelings. To help you reduce your loved one’s feelings of isolation and loneliness, the senior care experts at Home Care Assistance Tampa Bay discuss four tips for promoting seniors’ emotional health.

1. Internet

You may think your elderly relative would be disinterested in learning to use a computer or smartphone, however many seniors become comfortable and competent with technology very quickly. As the Internet can provide a number of ways to get and stay connected to friends and family, particularly those who live far away, your loved one may be intrigued by learning to email or use Facebook and Skype.

2. Hobbies

If your senior loved one has always loved golf or knitting or other hobbies, he or she may be thrilled if you give it a try too. Especially since your loved one may not have a companion to knit with or may have difficulty getting to a golf course independently, when you adopt his or her hobbies, you are also ensuring your loved one is able to enjoy his or her favorite activities.

3. Outings

It may be challenging for your elderly relative to get out and about if he or she has mobility or cognitive conditions, but with the assistance of a family member or part-time caregiver in Tampa, he or she can enjoy an afternoon outing. Basic activities, like attending a concert, seeing a movie, or going out to dinner, can be reinvigorating for your loved one and provide him or her with a sense of purpose.

4. Senior Clubs

Explore whether your area has an adult day center or a senior center that your relative could join and participate in, even if it’s just a few hours a week. Making friends of a similar age that live close by can be a great way to make your loved one feel connected. As these centers typically offer a variety of senior activities, your loved one may also become more cognitively engaged, which can also help prevent or delay the onset of mental decline.

If you’re looking for other ways to help your loved one avoid or reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, turn to Home Care Assistance. Beyond assisting with a range of daily tasks, like cooking, cleaning, and providing mobility assistance, our expertly trained Tampa 24/7 caregivers are also carefully matched with your loved one to ensure a strong foundation for a meaningful relationship and source of emotional support. To learn more about our senior care services, give a knowledgeable Care Manager a call at (727) 330-7862 and schedule a free in-home consultation.